How Your Lawn Can Overcome Dry Conditions!
2025 has seen a very dry and warm start to the year!
We have seen very limited frost this spring, and rainfall has deserted us in the West Midlands since the middle of March. With daylight extending and temperatures topping 20c, soils that have not benefitted from any additional water are now extremely dry and lawns being tested!
As a leading lawn treatment service, our aim is to keep lawns healthy and vibrant to enjoy this summer. This article looks into the best things that you can be doing to prepare your lawn for a brilliant summer when faced with dry conditions!
Keep a sensible height of cut of 30mm+
A thick lawn made up of healthy grass leaves protects the crown (base) of the grass plant and the soil below. Thinning the lawn through scarification or lowering your height of cut without adequate irrigation will put your lawn under additional stress.
Keep your height of cut at 30mm or above, making sure that your mower blades are razor sharp to avoid tearing the grass leaves and weakening your lawn. You will see enhanced results from a lawn treatment service by keeping your grass healthy between visits.
Should you water your lawn? YES!
Watering of lawns isn't for everyone. We get it. It takes time, it costs money and there are environmental concerns that clean water is being wasted.
However, grass is a plant and like all plants requires water to survive and thrive. It doesn't have to be endless water - water can be applied to lawns in a smart manner:
1) Water deeply, infrequently
Don't water little and often unless trying to achieve seed germination. This will encourage shallow rooting and disease. Apply 20-25mm of water, 1-2 times per week. Watering deeply will encourage deeper grass roots, thereby able to access water deeper into the soil in the future too.
2) Water away from the heat of the day
Water early morning or evening so evaporation is minimised. If you lawn is prone to red thread disease, then early morning will be better so the grass leaves are not sat wet for long periods.
3) Consider problem areas
Focus resources where they are needed most. If there is an area of lawn which struggles in full sun, be sure that this is the priority over a well shaded section.
Not sure how much water your are applying?
Use a cheap rain gauge (like Stan here!) or even a mug / cup for a loose idea!
Use of Wetting Agents
Wetting agents are brilliant if:
- You have a large lawn and watering isn't possible
- You are looking to reduce your water bill and environmental impact
- You'll water a few times, but want to get the very best from it and natural rainfall (my personal take)
A wetting agent is a product that lowers the surface tension of the soil, allowing moisture in more readily, and more consistently - reducing dry spots and problem areas. They are common on golf courses and bowling greens where surface consistency is important - along with keeping a close eye on the bills.
A RECORD number of our customers are benefitting from x2 'Stress Buster' applications this year. As a proud independent lawn treatment service, we can tailor these specialist applications to the given lawn in question. In previous years, we have used a cocktail of products to combat red thread disease in wetter years, for example!
Ongoing Treatments
In the West Midlands, our climate isn't on the extreme end of the spectrum, even within the UK. Thundery showers may only be a few short days or weeks away.
The good news is that we apply only semi-organic or fully coated professional fertiliser products to lawns in summer months. This means they cannot burn a lawn, regardless of the conditions. We invest into the best fertiliser technology so that we can be certain that we are preparing your lawn for it's best possible recovery for when rain does return.
In testing conditions, we have previously found that our best lawns (and customers) who have previously taken on board our advice for additional treatments and mechanical work when required have lawns that make the quickest recovery. The lawns that suffer and do not recover from a drought summer are the ones that had underlying issues anyway...
Get Pricing for Lawn Care Services - 60 Second Quotation, 24/7
Having a lawn care service on-side is key to gaining the best from your lawn this year.
Head to our Instant Estimate feature where getting a quotation sent to your inbox is as easy as 1-2-3.
1) Complete your details
2) Click and drop the pin on your house
3) Use the mapping tool to trace your lawns for approximate measurement and hit submit
There is no ongoing contract – see our online reviews and results for yourself! If you’re not one for technology or there’s a few unanswered questions, then we’re available over the phone during usual office hours on 01827 826123.